Why I Am Such a 'Newtonian'

My first encounter with Isaac Newton comes from almost all children's experiences with him. They start out learning about how the apple fell on his head, to which he leaps up and cries out 'Eureka!' Boom! Gravity has been discovered. After that not much happened in my exploration of him.

Then a few years ago I joined the National Trust, and being from Lincolnshire, we (my family and I) went to several of the places nearby. One of the closest was Woolsthorpe Manor. I had no idea at the time that it had anything to do with Newton, but when I read up about it prior to visiting, I thought, 'Blimey! I had no idea Newton was a Lincolnite!' But I wasn't completely hooked (pardon) on him yet.

We went, and it was lovely. The house itself is a spectrum of information, and that first visit seemed to enlighten me further, however, I wasn't even hooked then!

It was only AFTER I had read a book from the library about him that I began to like the genius to a great height. So I decided that I'd rather like to visit WM again, which, being a NT member was no problem! The second visit was also very enlightening, it's said the more times you visit a single location, the more you learn about it, or rather, you learn more about the place and the people associated with it every time you go. And it's true! Every time I went (which was a lot!) I learned something new about Newton. And one time, I remember I went to the house and walked into his room, and the painting of him as an old man dominated the design. There, the room guide was talking about his personal life and how he never married. I asked him why, to which he replied, he was either 'celibate, or asexual'.

I thought...'What the frick does 'asexual' mean'.

It turned out that the characteristics for Asexuals were 'lack of sexual attraction'.

That was the moment I realised how amazing this guy was. Isaac Newton spoke to me on levels I had never before opened up to. The lack of sexual attraction towards anyone in his circle was something I felt I could relate to. I had never before come across an Asexual idol in my life, yet here he was, and here I am now, thinking just how much more was there to this man?

So, with Asexual enlightenment came exploration. I wanted to find out if Newton really was Asexual, and if so, what else lay in his mind, his life, his personality?

Quite a lot actually.

Well, with all my biography reading of him, and with the library at my disposal, I wanted to read his correspondence, his letters and memoirs. Everything I wanted to read about him I found at Grantham, a pleasant town I've long been day tripping to since I can remember. But now with my eyes open to Newton, I began to see him everywhere! (Seriously, if you haven't been to Grantham, Newton is everywhere you look).

At the library, I spoke to the lady who was helping me to gather books about him. And she said something that really made me think. Her words were, 'I don't like Isaac Newton personally, I find him boring.'

Boring...?
My immediate thought was, 'You've been reading the wrong biographies!'

How can anyone think Newton boring?! He is one of the most interesting people I've ever read about! Apart from discovering Gravity, he split the light to reveal colours, he invented a brand new telescope, he almost went blind by looking directly into the sun AND poking a bodkin into the back of his eye, he experimented with alchemy and went temporarily insane, his hair went white at an early age due to stress and Mercury, he spent a year at home working on the future 'Principia', making small windmills, sundials, and watermills, he changed the way coins were made, as well as becoming active detective to see counterfeit criminals hang. He also cheated, lied, and stole to get his own way, as well as being rude malicious and unsociable to practically everyone he met.

Yep I'd say he's utterly dull.

Given his persona, I'd say that, although his sexuality (or lack of) meant he never married or had children, seems to suit him better than being a family man. Given his own relatives and his upbringing I'm not surprised he stayed single.

But I would never say he was without love. There were a few women and men in his life that caused him to feel emotion on an intimate level, that which I can relate to. I, although I feel I may never have sex or get married, have not been without love as well. It's only the one man I'd ever truly loved I couldn't ever have.

However, for Newton, these conflicts didn't appear for him. In his childhood, a family friend had a daughter, Katherine Storer, who believed one day she and Newton would marry. However, this unrequited love was never to be, and she became a twice married woman to other men. The other who features most prominently, is Nicolas Fatio de Duillier, the cunning and brilliant Swiss who enthralled Newton to a new level. His impact on Newton was huge, more that people realise. Not only did he cause Newton distress when he became ill, but almost cost Newton his reputation after joining the 'Camisards'. Then Newton suffered his biggest breakdown soon after Fatio's departure from Newton's life. This breakdown led to Newton heading to London and joining the Mint, shifting his interest from Philosophy to Criminal Investigation. All the while, Fatio spirals downhill and ends up losing his reputation with said Camisards and spending three days in the pillories. Despite the promise Fatio showed to Newton, he became his own enemy. Fatio later returns to add his insult to Leibniz (who Fatio was once well aquainted with) during the Calculus Wars.

But with all the support and devotion Fatio showed to Newton throughout their four years together, Newton cast Fatio aside and realised that he was going to drag Newton down with him if he didn't get out. This and Fatio's homosexuality couldn't work with Newton's lack of sexual appetite. Although some biographers refer to Newton as a 'repressed homosexual', I believe that Newton was more asexual, if not 'homoromantic' if it pleases them. From what I've read, I believe Newton felt a love for Fatio, but due to his unwillingness to engage in the activities Fatio wanted, their relationship was doomed from the start.

As almost every Asexual will say, 'If sex without love can exist, then love without sex can too'. And if Newton was asexual, I don't think he was completely without love. And my own asexuality I can relate with him. I have found an idol who's life I can't relate completely with, although the lack of a father and a feeling of isolation, and my 100mph absent mind seem to fit nicely with his.

There is so much more I shall write on him at a later date, but the conclusion to this is that these points of his life I have such an interest for. His life is far from boring, and I seriously recommend reading about him.

Do it now.